RIZE Bookazine, Germany
2024
Edition 20
AURELIE HOEGY
FASCINATION RATTAN
by Babak Shahverdi
French designer Aurélie Hoegy bridges the boundaries between art and design by making furniture out of rattan. Like a harmonious, even hypnotic dance, her works emphasize the connection between the human body, object and space…
The « Wild Fibers » collection by French designer Aurélie Hoegy explores the essence of rattan and its connection to nature. Rattan has always been frequently used in handicrafts. It is elegant, flexible, versatile, and soft to the touch, yet hard and very durable. Motivated by her fascination with this robust yet flexible material, designer Aurélie, who lives and works in Paris, has chosen rattan as the primary material for her furniture design collection, which she calls « Wild Fibers ». For example, with the « Joali Chaise », she designed a chair made of wild fibers for a resort in the Maldives.
« My focus was to draw inspiration from the material in its essence, along with the idea of creating a symbiosis between body movement and the dynamic quality of rattan itself. » says Hoegy. The French designer and artist creates installations, furniture, lighting, and product designs, among others, using movement as a medium and embodying it in her work.
The furniture in the « Wild Fibers » line can truly he considered functional art Due to the furniture designer’s fascination and interest in the materiality of rattan, she was able to use it, as it allows for movement without restricting it. « I went to Indonesia, where I spent a month in a traditional craft workshop. » says the designer. « There are incredible rattan vines there.
I started to get to know them and work with local craftsmen in Bali. I was fascinated by the gestures of the locals: they work with their whole body, even with their feet. They literally dance with the fiber. It’s a sophisticated craft, and they were happy to share their know-how and art with me. » Hoegy expanded her exploration to various pieces of furniture: a sofa, a coffee table, an armchair, and even tapestry. The final products are well-composed pieces that reflect the elegance of the material while demonstrating the adaptability of rattan. Hoegy’s collection offers a glimpse into the endless possibilities of rattan and is both original and timeless.
Aurélie’s design approach combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. While she handcrafts her pieces in her Paris atelier, she collaborates with engineers, choreographers, and even hairdressers to bring her visions to life. She uses traditional modeling techniques as well as 3D printing to develop tools tailored to the unique properties of rattan. Her work is a testament to the synergy between craftsmanship and the unpredictable nature of materials, creating designs that are truly alive.